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Andrew Luck stuns NFL world with sudden retirement

Paste BN

Andrew Luck pulled off a stunner Saturday night. With two weeks until the 2019 season opener, a generational talent decided to walk away from the game at 29 years old.

"(The injuries have) taken my joy of this game away. I've been stuck in this process, haven't been able to live the life I want to live. After 2016, I played in pain and was unable to practice, I said I wouldn't go through that again," Luck said in an emotional press conference held after the Colts' preseason game against the Bears.

Luck was on the sidelines for the game, and was booed by some fans in Indianapolis as he walked off the Lucas Oil Stadium field for the final time.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't hear the reaction. It hurt," Luck said.

Luck's six NFL seasons took quite a physical toll. He hadn't played at all this preseason while dealing with a calf injury that spread to his ankle in his left leg.

While the Colts' 2019 hopes now ride on Jacoby Brissett, fans are reconciling with a new reality in the brutal game of football.

More Andrew Luck

- How much money is Luck giving up? Financially, Luck is leaving a lot of money — both in terms of money left on his contract and potential future earnings — on the table. 

- This retirement is a reminder of football's human toll: Let’s not forget that for Luck to get to this point, he has paid with his body and mind.

- Sports-talk show host blasts Luck: A well-known college basketball broadcaster, former college hoops head coach and sports-talk radio host openly questioned Luck's reasons for retiring.

- Luck showed strength walking away, but some Colts fans just don't get it: Luck deserved better than boos he heard from Colts fans after his retirement news. His decision to walk away from the NFL took great strength.

- How not to react to the Luck news: There were really only two ways to properly react to the Luck retirement news.

- What about Capt. Andrew Luck? On Sunday morning, the famous Twitter parody account tweeted after Luck announced his retirement Saturday.

- What now for the Colts? After Luck announced his retirement, Colts general manager Chris Ballard ponders what's ahead: "It's been an emotional week." Colts owner Jim Irsay, for his part, isn't completing ruling out a reunion with Luck one day.   

Quick trip around the league

- NFL preseason winners, losers: The Patriots have reloaded, while the Colts and Chargers have taken hits. Check out the winners and losers heading into preseason finales.

- The end of Antonio Brown's helmet saga? The Brown helmet saga might finally be over! Brown lost his second grievance and will likely have no choice but to wear an approved helmet in 2019.

- What's Ezekiel Elliott been up to in Cabo? Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk is working out with the Cowboys' holdout, and dishes on what's going on in Cabo San Lucas.

- Time for the NFL to overhaul its preseason setup: As more teams opt against playing their starters in the NFL preseason, it's time to cut the slate of exhibition games in half, writes Mike Jones.

- Denied! Tom Brady applied for the "Tom Terrific" trademark, but the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office said "no."

- Coach 'challenges' WR with Jay-Z songs: Kenny Stills was critical of Jay-Z, so Dolphins coach Brian Flores played eight consecutive Jay-Z songs during a recent practice.

- Daniel Jones continues to silence the haters: After Thursday night's performance, Giants coach Pat Shurmur said of his rookie QB: "I think it’s time to start asking the people that didn’t like him what they think, quite frankly."

- PHOTOS: Best of the preseason | Cheerleaders | Training camp

Prepare for your fantasy football draft

Your fantasy football draft is quickly approaching. Here's some valuable insight as you prep your draft rankings and strategy.

If you still want more fantasy football help, go check out our friends at The Huddle, where you can get a discount on the data and recommendations to help you dominate on the way to a title.  

NFL preseason Week 4 schedule

(All times Eastern)

Thursday

Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals, 7 p.m.

Atlanta Falcons at Jacksonville Jaguars, 7 p.m.

Minnesota Vikings at Buffalo Bills, 7 p.m.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers, 7 p.m. (NFL Network)

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets, 7 p.m.

New York Giants at New England Patriots, 7:30 p.m.

Detroit Lions at Cleveland Browns, 7:30 p.m.

Baltimore Ravens at Washington Redskins, 7:30 p.m.

Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints, 8 p.m.

Los Angeles Rams at Houston Texans, 8 p.m.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys, 8 p.m.

Tennessee Titans at Chicago Bears, 8 p.m.

Kansas City Chiefs at Green Bay Packers, 8 p.m.

Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos, 9 p.m.

Los Angeles Chargers at San Francisco 49ers, 10 p.m. (NFL Network)

Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks, 10 p.m.

#NFL100

As the NFL celebrates its 100th season, we are unveiling our all-time 100 players lists for every team. So far, top 100 player lists have been released for teams in the NFC East, NFC North, NFC South, NFC West and AFC South. Stay tuned to @usatodaysports for more all-time top 100 team lists. Coming soon to a Twitter feed near you: AFC East and AFC North.

More all-time NFL awesomeness:

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